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Archive for July, 2014

I have with a lot of interest realised that many of my readers have been reading my earlier posts on Christian attitude towards porn. From the comments, many are really struggling with the temptations to sin. I came across some writings from Thomas a’ Kempis devotions (1380-1471) and I felt it’s important to share. He says that we should note the following about temptations (although he doesn’t talk about porn, however, the subject is of great benefit)
1. Be on the Watch
As long as we live in the world we cannot escape temptations and tribulations. As it is written in Job, “our life on this earth is warfare.” For this reason we must be careful and concerned about our own temptations. We must be watchful in prayer lest the devil be given an opportunity to deceive us. For the devil never sleeps but “goes about seeking whom he may devour.” Remember, no one is so holy that he or she does not have to deal with temptations.-We can never be free of them.
2. The Usefulness of Temptations
And yet, temptations can be useful to us even though they seem to cause us nothing but pain. They are useful because they can make us humble, they can cleanse us, and they can teach us. All of the saints passed through times of temptation and tribulation, and they used them to make progress in the spiritual life. Those who did not deal with temptations successfully fell to the wayside.
3. The Source of Termptations: ‘Why’ W’e Can’t Run Away
No one is completely free of temptations because the source of temptation is in ourselves. We were born in sinful desire. When one temptation passes, another is on its way. ‘We will always have temptation because we are sinners who lost our original innocence in the Garden. Many have tried to escape temptations only to find that they more grievously fall into them. We cannot win this battle by running away alone; the key to victory is true humility and patience; in them we overcome the enemy. If we merely turn away from temptation outwardly and do not strike at the root, we will make very little progress. In fact, you will find that the temptations will return more quickly and powerfully, and you will feel even worse. Little by little, through patient endurance of spirit (with the help of God), you will win a better victory than by your own determination.
4. Temptations Reveal Who We Are
The beginning of all evil temptations is an unstable mind and a small trust in God. Just as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so a person who lacks resolution and certainty is tossed about by temptations. Temptation reveals our instability and our lack of trust in God; temptations reveal who we are. This is why we must pay attention to them.
5. How Temptations Enter and Overcome Us
We will do better in dealing with temptations if we keep an eye on them in the very beginning” Temptations are more easily overcome if they are never allowed to enter our minds. Meet them at the door as soon as they knock, and do not let them in. One simple thought can enter the mind and start the process. The process works like this. First, the thought is allowed to enter into our minds. Second, the imagination is sparked by the thought. Third, we Get a sense of pleasure at the fantasy, and we entertain it. Fourth and finally, we engage in the evil action, assenting to its urges. This is how, little by little, temptations gain entrance and overcome us if they are not resisted at the beginning. The longer we let them overcome us, the weaker we become, and the stronger the enemy against us.
6. Never Despair: God Is with You
‘We must not despair when we are tempted but, instead, seek God more fervently, asking for his help in this time of tribulation. Remember St. Paul’s words of assurance, “God will make a way of escape from every temptation so that we may be able to bear it.” Let us, therefore, humble ourselves before God and take shelter beneath his hand. God will lift up all who have a humble spirit and save them in all trials and tribulations. Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will never be without strive and grief.
Thus, we should not strive for a peace that is without temptation, or for a life that never feels adversity. Peace is not found by escaping temptations, but by being tried by them. we will have discovered peace when we have been tried and come through the trial of temptation.
7. The Pain of Temptations
“But,” you may say, “‘What about those who find such pleasure and delight when they give in to temptations?” To be sure, there is pleasure for them, but how long does it last? It is like smoke-it vanishes quickly. Soon even the memory of the joy is gone.
They will never find rest, and they will live in bitterness and weariness and fear. The very thing they think will bring them joy will bring them sorrow; that which they think will bring them pleasure will bring them only pain. Because of their blindness and numbness they may never see or feel how miserable they are. They may not even know that their soul is slowly dying.
8. The Way to True Delight
But, if you want to have true delight, here is the way: have contempt for all worldly things and all lower delights, and rich consolation will, in turn, be given to you. In proportion as you withdraw yourself from the love of these things, so you will find consolations from God much more sweet and potent. At first this will be difficult. Long-standing habits will resist, but they will be vanquished, in time, by a better habit-if you persevere! The flesh will cry out, but it will be restrained by the Spirit. The devil will try to stir you up and provoke you, but he will run away the moment you begin to pray. And above all, try to engage in useful work. In doing so, the devil is prevented from having access to you.
9. Lay the Axe to the Root
If we made an effort to stand firmly and courageously in the struggle, doubtless we should see the help of our Lord from heaven, for he is ready to help those who must in his grace; he gives us occasions to fight that we may win. If our spiritual progress relies only on outward observances, our devotion will not last long. Let us lay the axe to the root, so that being purged of unruly passions we may have peace of mind. If every year we uprooted a single fault, we should soon become perfect. But we often feel that we were better and more pure at the beginning of our spiritual lives than we are now after many years of living our vows! Fervor and progress ought to increase daily, but it is thought to be a fine thing these days if a person can hold on to even a little of those first intense feelings! If we would exercise a little self discipline at the beginning, then we would later be able to do everything easily and joyfully.
10. Defeating Old Habits
It is hard to give up old habits, but it is even harder to go against one’s own will. Yet, if you cannot overcome small, trivial things, when will you overcome difficult ones? Fight the urge when it starts, and break off bad habits, lest perhaps, little by little, they lead you into greater trouble. Oh, if you could only know how much peace for yourself and joy for others your good efforts could bring, I think you would be more anxious for spiritual growth.

I am fearfully and wonderfully created Today I decree and declare that I am blessed as I leave the house and as I come back I decree and declare in the name of Jesus that I am blessed and will be a blessing to many in Jesus name

I decree and declare in Jesus name that I will be taught of the LORD in Jesus name I decree and declare in the name of Jesus that no weapon fashioned against me shall prosper, but that the weapons that I will use will be mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Walls will crumble and weapons forged against me will melt.

The weapons I will use will bring great defeat to the enemy to the Glory of God.

I decree and declare that no word spoken against me shall take effect in Jesus name, indeed I silence every tongue that rises against me in judgement.

That words that I will speak today shall be under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and shall take effect in Jesus name in Jesus name

I decree and declare in the name of Jesus Christ that my hands, my feet, my mind, my tongue, my eyes, my ears, my spirit, my soul, my body, my clothing and all that I have shall not be used by the devil, but shall be instruments in God’s hand to glorify him alone

I decree and declare that my wife, my husband, my parents, my children, my friends and all my close associates will find protection in the Lord today

I decree and declare that the angels of the living God will ascend and descend unto me conveying my blessings in the name of Jesus Christ

I decree and declare in Jesus name that no barrier, and no satanic resistance shall stand my way.

I decree that I will destroy and overcome them all in Jesus name.

I decree and declare that the favour of the Lord surrounds me today, and God’s mercies upon me are new

I decree and declare that I will be taught, led, guided, instructed and corrected by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.

I decree and declare that the sun, the moon, the stars, the heavens, the ground, the waters, the stones in the field and my environment shall fight on my side and shall not allow the devil to use them against me in any way in Jesus name

I decree and declare that no witchcraft, spell or divination shall touch me or my blessings for there is no witchcraft against God’s children.

Indeed i declare that I am blessed of the Lord and the blessings of the LORD shall follow and overtake me in Jesus name.

The Lord arises today before me and my enemies are scattered

I plead the blood of Jesus around my family, my ….. and I decree that the blood of Jesus shall speak good upon my interests and shall stand against my enemies in Jesus name

I join the heavenlies today to declare God’s glory in Jesus name

I decree and declare that the LORD my God will direct my paths, his angels shall lead me and I will not follow paths of wickedness, sin or those of my enemies, but rather I will follow paths of holiness, righteousness and of truth.

Whatever that my hands shall touch will be blessed in Jesus name, for God will bless the work of my hands I will walk through the doors that the LORD my God has opened for me only, not any other

No one will close the doors opened for me, or open the ones that my God has closed in Jesus name

The traps set upon my feet are broken today, and I escape in Jesus name

I decree and declare today that I will walk in divine health, for I am operating under the healing promises of God

I decree and declare that a thousand shall fall on my side, ten thousand or my right hand side, and no evil shall befall me I decree and declare that God’s mighty angels of war, fire and terror shall go before be, pursue my enemies, rout them out, bring back what my enemies have taken, even my generational blessings in Jesus name

I will not operate today under fear, unforgiveness, disobedience, covetousness, pride or immorality in the name of Jesus, for God hates them.

I decree that I will operate in trust, fear of the LORD, obedience, love and humility in Jesus name.

Let the gates of my life, my flesh and my eyes be closed to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life in Jesus name, but let them be opened to humility, holiness, the glories of the LORD and His wonder working power

I decree and declare that I will operate under the knowledge, discernment and the wisdom of the LORD in Jesus name

I will feed on the word of God which is my spiritual food, and my spiritual belly will be full in Jesus name

My spiritual man is growing strong because f the word of God in me in Jesus name

Today I offer my body unto God as a living sacrifice, holy unto God

The Lord my God will help me to guard my mind and my heart and so that no evil will penetrate in Jesus name.

I walk by faith,not by sight, in Jesus name

I am the blessed of the LORD and so father I thank you for all these blessings in Jesus name AMEN

Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

A blog reaching out to victims of abuse and others in need, providing insight about abuse, hope for the future, and guidance to see THE LIGHT that lead Secret Angel out of the darkness of her own abusive situation and helped her to not only survive but to overcome.